The Avenues foothills (and perhaps other areas long the benches, seem remarkably lush and green for early June. Yesterday evening I did my first hike since returning from Scotland and was blown away by the vegetation.
It's not unusual for the foothills to green up in the spring and for there to be wildflowers. Often by the start of June, things are browning up, but the emerald foothills are hanging on this year. Additionally, the coverage and height of the grasses and other vegetation in many areas seems exceptional, in some areas reaching or exceeding the height of my treking poles, which were set to 120 cm (48 inches).
Your anecdotal and scientific observations are always much anticipated and eagerly read. We live in Holladay and our vegetation is booming too! The pyracantha bushes have never displayed more flowers, and the roses, fruit trees and veggie garden are all exploding in abundance and color. With two great Winters and mild Springs maybe the ground water has finally been recharged and is promoting this incredible growth. Let’s enjoy it while we have it!
ReplyDeleteThere's also a quite prodigious bloom of Sego Lillies going on right now. There's a brief window where these bloom. Look on western aspects, in dry sparse-ish grass, and you'll find the 6" high stems with perfect flowers. They only last a brief time. I'd been hiking the same trails with my dogs every other day for the past few weeks and searching, and only yesterday did they emerge. The Sego Lilly is the Utah state flower, and it's the main part of SLC's city logo. If you find one, please look, but don't pick it---it's illegal to pick them in Utah---and they only grow in the wild in very specific conditions. Nobody's been able to grow them in a nursery.
ReplyDeleteAgree with the sentiment but the sego lily has no specific protection. https://www.unps.org/index.html?PAGES/laws.html
DeleteFinishing up the morning run on that new Millcreek connector trail this am was thinking it is going to be a YUGE fire season this year...
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